WATER COOLER
The Water Cooler is written by Washington Times staffers.
Latest Blog Entries
China suggests it's time for a 'de-Americanized' world
A stark reminder to House Republicans and the White House: Xinhua, the official news agency of China, says it's "a good time for the befuddled world to start considering building a de-Americanized world."
Cost of the shutdown in national parks: $76 million per day
Money and public interest lost in the nation’s great parks due to the federal shutdown? The 900-member Coalition of National Park Service Retirees is on it. The group compared current numbers and revenues with those from a year ago, to reveal the mind-boggling amount lost daily.
Jesse Ventura asks: why should Americans have to pay taxes during a shutdown?
Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura is convinced that Americans should not have to pay taxes during the federal government shutdown. "Here's my big question. Since the government shut down, now let's keep track of the number of days we shouldn't have to pay taxes then."
Shutdown vanity: hey DC men, the 'business of handsomeness' hasn't shut down, so look sharp
It is the ultimate challenge for powerful men in the nation's capital who know the value of a flawlessly shaved cheek and a haircut to be reckoned with: "Don't let the shutdown hinder your handsomeness," say those who purvey the tools of the trade.
POLL: Potholes and cockroaches more popular than Congress
How low can Congress go? Alas, voters have a more favorable opinion of the IRS, jury duty, hipsters, potholes, cockroaches, mothers-in-law, toenail fungus, public radio fund raising drives, motor vehicle departments, hemorrhoids and even “dog poop” than they do of Congress.
Tea party to White House: decide if we're 'inconsequential' or powerful enough to cause the shutdown
It is a cultural moment of the political variety. Is the tea party just a bunch of has-beens, or powerful enough to cause the federal shutdown? The tea party itself wants to know, now that its critics conveniently blame them for all the woes of Washington, and possibly the known universe.
Shutdown angst: Americans say this government shutdown worse than 1995
The shutdown is getting to us: 70 percent of Americans view the ongoing shutdown of the federal government as a crisis or a major problem, even higher than the 56 percent who said the same thing the same at the height of the last shutdown in December, 1995.
Dir. of National Intelligence James Clapper deems news coverage "inaccurate and misleading"
"Many of the recent articles based on leaked classified documents have painted an inaccurate and misleading picture of the Intelligence Community. The reality is that the men and women at the National Security Agency and across the Intelligence Community are abiding by the law, respecting the rights of citizens and doing everything they can to help keep our nation safe."
The White House secretly taking guns away? Super Bowl rigged? Here's the poll
One pollster says that Republicans are more likely than Democrats to embrace conspiracy theories. But as some GOPers will tell you, somebody's got to ponder the existence of secret societies or "men in black" drawing a red line against alien invasions.
Judicial Watch asks: Why did the Air Force Academy remove "God" from its inductee oath?
Wait, God is no longer the co-pilot out there in Colorado Springs? That's what one aggressive watchdog wants to know. The U.S. Air Force Academy has removed the words 'So help me God' from some written materials, including the oath administered to inductees based upon the objections of a single atheist, says Tom Fitton, director of Judicial Watch.
Rick Santorum becomes movie executive: the first film ready in November
He still could be contemplating a run for president. Or vice president. Rick Santorum, however, has a new identity. Conservative and political credentials intact, he has quietly become CEO of EchoLight Studios, an inspirational and family film company
Media declares Wendy Davis better than Ted Cruz, then puzzles over Ted
Media analysis ran rampant among news organizations eager to compare Ted Cruz with Wendy Davis, the Texas state lawmaker who staged an 11-hour pro-choice filibuster before her own state legislature in June.
52 percent of Americans say stricter gun laws won't make a difference in preventing mass shootings
Stricter gun control laws or better mental health care? Should the nation have a serious discussion about gun laws right after a mass shooting - or wait? They are complicated questions. A few numbers, then, from a public opinion survey conducted after the Navy Yard massacre.
Grassroots love: Republicans now have $12.5 million in mostly small donations
The average donation was $48. The percentage of donors who gave under $200 was 98 percent. It's amount to a very handsome chunk of change for the Republican Party, which now has $12.5 million in their war chest, cash on hand.
The mainstream press takes aim at the Second Amendment with biased coverage
Providing viable coverage of Second Amendment rights, gun control, public safety and American values is a tricky business. The press, however, is taking a few liberties here. Consider that their very language has changed: journalists appear to prefer term "gun reform" over "gun control." There's a reason for this.
